Annex – Interim Clarifications of SOLAS Chapter II-2 Requirements Regarding Interrelation Between the Central Control Station, Navigation Bridge and Safety Centre
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1368 – Interim Clarifications of SOLAS Chapter II-2 Requirements Regarding Interrelation Between the Central Control Station, Navigation Bridge and Safety Centre – (22 June 2010) - Annex – Interim Clarifications of SOLAS Chapter II-2 Requirements Regarding Interrelation Between the Central Control Station, Navigation Bridge and Safety Centre

Annex – Interim Clarifications of SOLAS Chapter II-2 Requirements Regarding Interrelation Between the Central Control Station, Navigation Bridge and Safety Centre

  1 The functionality of the safety systems stated in SOLAS regulation II-2/23.6 should be available from the safety centre systems under any envisaged emergency situation (other than casualty affecting the safety centre itself) and should be efficiently managed from the safety centre without distracting the bridge teamfootnote. The functionality of these systems within the safety centre is specified in appendix 1.

  2 The safety centre may or may not be part of the navigation bridge. The safety centre may be considered as part of the navigation bridge when it is arranged as examples indicated in diagrams (a), (b) and (c) of the illustration in appendix 4. In case of arrangements such as in diagram (d) in appendix 4, the safety centre should be considered as not being part of the navigation bridge.

  3 Where the safety centre is part of the bridge:

  • .1 it is acceptable to consider nearby members of the bridge team as being sufficient to make the safety centre "continuously manned";

  • .2 alarms in the safety centre should be audible at the conning position for responsible members of the bridge team to make them aware of an alarm condition; and

  • .3 at least one member of the on-watch bridge team should be properly trained and authorized to take appropriate initial and interim actions in the event of an emergency or in response to an alarm, until the safety centre is fully manned.

  4 Where the safety centre is not part of the navigation bridge, it may or may not be continuously manned.

  4.1 When the safety centre is continuously manned the functionality of the systems listed in appendix 2 should be duplicated on the Navigating Bridge.

  4.2 When the safety centre is not continuously manned, there should be the capability on the navigation bridge to alert the bridge team of developing shipboard emergencies, to respond to them appropriately by taking initial and interim actions and to allow necessary monitoring functions after the safety centre is manned by properly trained persons. Therefore, the functionality of the systems listed in appendix 3 should be duplicated on the navigation bridge.

  5 The hierarchy of control between the navigation bridge and safety centre should be specified within the shipboard safety management system. In this respect:

  • .1 an adequate number of properly trained personnel should be available for immediate response to the safety centre in an emergency while maintaining an effective navigational watch;

  • .2 the duties of the safety centre personnel and navigation bridge personnel should not overlap; and

  • .3 coordination of emergency management actions and communications should be assured through established emergency procedures, harmonized with the onboard decision support system required by SOLAS regulation III/29.

  6 In carrying out the various functions on the navigation bridge and safety centre an integrated computer technology may be used.

  7 When such a system is utilized:

  • .1 the hierarchy of control of the various computer stations and locations should be clearly documented;

  • .2 the computer system and programming should be designed to assure that failure of the system does not cause the loss of any of the ship's safety systems; and

  • .3 the operational status and failures of the computer system or its communications should be indicated.

  8 Controls and monitoring of safety and security related systems other than those listed under SOLAS regulation II-2/23.6 may also be located in the safety centre.


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